&#%*@!$&*@*# battery

[BarryK]

got a call from the mechanic yesterday regarding my car. It's at his shop for basic oil change, filter, adjust valves, etc.
Just really a basic "Spring maintanence" service but only doing it this late in the season because this is when I finally got my car back from paint.

anyway........he calls to say I need a new battery. No big surprise there as it went dead a few times while at the paint shop and I noticed a lot of corrosion on top of it. The big thing is that he said the battery is leaking like crazy and dripping acid all down over the battery tray and all over the frame rail below it and just eating the paint from the frame.
He will clean it up as much as possible (and of course replace the battery) but now I'll have to get the car up on a friends lift and try to touch up the paint on the frame. As soon as he told ne this I just cringed as the underside of my car was pretty near to perfect and when I first looked at the car to buy it my first thought was it was clean enough to eat off of so knowing battery acid is eating that paint away is NOT making me very happy to say the least!
Hey Terry.............that offer to use your lift still good??

my question is what's the best type of paint to use to touch up the frame? Basic rustoleum? semigloss? ????

Thanks for everyones help in advance!

here is pic of the underside of the car last year so you can see why I'm upset.

 

[Subfixer]

Ask him to flush everything out real well and hit it with an acid neutralizer (like baking soda). That should limit the corrosion.

 

[BarryK]

yeah, he said he would clean it up as good as possible - still going to need the frame touched up afterwards with new paint in that area though - he said he could see the paint just plain gone off the frame where it leaked down

 

[Subfixer]

Now I feel bad about that "bad luck" comment I made in the other thread.

Sheesh.... It's always something.....

 

[BarryK]

yeah, it seems to be that way...........


just like the old saying........... if it wasn't for BAD luck, i wouldn't have any at all

 

[John Mcgraw]

Barry,

Spend the few extra bucks and get an Optima red top battery. It is a sealed battery that will not leak on your car ever. The battery can even be installed upside-down and it will not leak! It is the best $100 you will ever spend.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[BarryK]

John
I thought of those but was afraid that it would stick out like a sore thumb under the hood with everything else being so stock and original although your point is an excellent one. I have used the optima batteries a lot in the past while I was in the car audio industry and know they are a great battery. My mechanic had suggested either an Interstate battery (his first choice) or an AC Delco battery to look a bit more stock. The AC Delco I know wouldn't look like an original battery but we figure having the AC Delco name under the hood would at least look more appropiate so that's what I told him to put in. Maybe I made a mistake there though.............
when I was talking to him I was more upset about the acid leaking over my frame rather than thinking clearly on the type of replacement battery.

 

[stepinwolf]

Same problem for me Barr

John
I thought of those but was afraid that it would stick out like a sore thumb under the hood with everything else being so stock and original although your point is an excellent one. I have used the optima batteries a lot in the past while I was in the car audio industry and know they are a great battery. My mechanic had suggested either an Interstate battery (his first choice) or an AC Delco battery to look a bit more stock. The AC Delco I know wouldn't look like an original battery but we figure having the AC Delco name under the hood would at least look more appropriate so that's what I told him to put in. Maybe I made a mistake there though.............
when I was talking to him I was more upset about the acid leaking over my frame rather than thinking clearly on the type of replacement battery.

This is the last ad @#$%&* correctly dated, repro, acid battery for me also. The " no overcharging " trickle charger, actually caused mine to overcharge during more then a week or so, and completely ruined the immediate undercarriage area. As soon as I can get at it ( heater+AC hoses ) I will remove it and dump it in the nearest landfill.

The Optima batteries can now be fitted with covers ( C-Central # 171169 ), that will simulated a regular acid , period correct battery, so you can rest assured that it's installation will be the next thing, on my to-do list.

Live and learn, well actuallly NO,,,,,,,,,,, come to think of it, this situation is not something new. These fornicating acid batteries were like that in the sexties also, and we had the same problems then. Ah,,, what was that about the " what goes around, comes around thingy " :ugh

Stepinwolf

 

[BarryK]

it's always somethinbg, isn't it Step?

ok guys, now about the paint to use to touch up the frame........... what's the best type for me to use?

 

[midyear]

A quick thought...often the cause of a leaking battery is a stuck voltage regulator. I have had this problem before, it will ruin a battery fairly quickly, and if you are having really bad luck, the fan/driving will blow the acid out the side vants and could damage the ext paint and sidepipe cover. An optima battery is dry cell and wont leak, but can still be damaged from overcharging.


Dennis

 

[paul67]

Barry,

John Deere Blitz Black (semi-gloss) or Krylon Semi-Flat. They are slightly different in tone so perhaps one of each to try to match what is now there.

 

[BarryK]

Dennis

good thought, thanks! my mechanic is going to check over the alternator anyway so if there is a problem with the regulator it should show up.

Paul
Thanks! that was the info I needed. Either of those paints should be easy to find - the local JD dealership where I get my tractors from should have their black paint or any hardware store should have the Krylon.
I just got back from looking over the car and the acid damage - it definately needed touching up underneath but it wasn't quite as bad as I was imagining it was. He was about to drop the panel under the battery tray and clean off everything and use some type of battery acid neutralizer on the area before putting in the new battery than after I get the car home I can spray the area with the new paint.

 

[coves4me]

Barry, I think the Optima battery is a good alternative, but if money is the issue, try ordering a battery acid absorber mat from Mid-America Mortorworks. bought one for each of my C-1's, cut it to fit the battery tray, re-installed the batteries and have had no problems with spills or leaks in 2 years. It's a good solution and cheaper than the Optima and faux case!! Good luck!!:cool

 

[JohnZ]

Good thought - I have battery mats from Griot's Garage (www.griotsgarage.com) in all my cars - they're yellow, so I just paint them flat black around the edges before I install them. I have the same battery in all of them too (AC-Delco #24-7YR) and have never had a leak, but the mat will absorb it and neutralize it if it should occur.

 

[BarryK]

Coves and John
excellent idea! I have a Griot's catalog around so I'll find that item and get one.

 

[paul67]

Barry,

I have a new battery tray if you need it. No cost to you.

 

[BarryK]

wow, that's EXTREMELY generous of you Paul!
let me find out how bad my current one is first. if a clean up and a simple coat of new paint won't do the trick than I may take you up on that.

 

[Delph]

I also recommend the Optima Red Top. The best battery I have ever had...hands down and it will not ever leak. Thats one of the cool things about it. I didnt know about the optional top. I will have to check into that myself.

 

[BarryK]

hi Delph
I agree, the optima is a great battery - I've used plenty of them in the past. The AC Delco battery was delivered today while I was there so that's what's going in.
If I even SUSPECT any problems with the new battery in the future I will be switching to an Optima though.
I'm 40yo and I bought my first car (an Austin Healy) when I was 12. Every single one has had a standard type battery and I've never had one leak like this one did. This one was an Excide(??) battery and my mechanic says they are one of the worst ones available but it's what was in the car when I bought it.
I think this AC Delco battery should be ok............ but if not it's will be an Optima going in next no matter how out-of-place it may look under the hood.

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Barry - I replaced my lead acid reproduction battery just this year with a spiral technology battery like the optima (in fact same technology) however fitted in the correct original Delco case for the 66 corvette. I got it from antique auto battery. It was about 220 bucks and it looks perfect and dated.